French King Louis XIV, the Sun King, who ruled from the age of five, dies. The period of his reign is known as the period of opulence and prosperity of France, is also known for the construction of the Versailles palace.

In 1923, Japan is struck by a catastrophic earthquake. The capital city of Tokyo and Yokohama were almost completely destroyed. The earthquake killed around 150,000 people and 2.5 million were left homeless.

In 1939, the Germans, in the early hours of the morning, without a declaration of war invade Poland. The Second World War begins.

In 1985, 73 years after the Titanic, a majestic ocean-going liner sank after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic; her remains are found on the bottom of the ocean. The ship was found at a depth of 3,800 meters southeast of Newfoundland. It was discovered that the ship had broken into two.

In 2004, a group of armed hijackers stormed the school in Beslan, North Ossetia, and for three days kept hostage more than a thousand children, parents and teachers, who had gathered on the first day of school. 330 people died in the attack - more than half were school children.

In 2008 Jerry Reed, American musician and actor, dies.

MUSIC HISTORY

1956 - Elvis Presley is No. 2 with his song ‘Hound Dog', The Platters are No. 1 with 'My Prayer', on the American singles chart.

1973 - Rod Stewart with his album 'Sing It Again' tops the British charts.

1974 - The Osmonds take the No.1 spot on the British singles chart with ‘Love Me For A Reason.

1984 - Tina Turner is at the top of the American charts with her song 'What's Love Got To Do With It'.

1990 - Prince inspires the Brits with the album from the film 'Graffiti Bridge'.

BORN ON THIS DAY

1927 - Tommy Evans, singer in The Drifters (1960 'Save The Last Dance For Me').

1933 – Singer Conway Twitty (1958 'It's Only Make Believe').

1947 - Barry Gibb, singer in the group The Bee Gees (1978 'Night Fever').

1957 – Singer Gloria Estefan (1988 'Anything For You').

1965 – Singer and actor Craig McLachlan (1990 'Mona').